Ajay Karthikeyan wins D A V Krida Kendram Rapid Rating Open 2023

by Shahid Ahmed - 11/11/2023

One less than a dozen players scored 8/9 at D A V Krida Kendram Rapid Rating Open 2023. They were - IM Ajay Karthikeyan, FM Karthik Rajaa, IM Aswath S, GM Laxman R R, IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J, Sailesh R, FM Prasannaa S, Aakash G, Jinan Jomon, Sarveshwaran V and Vignesh B. Ajay, Karthik and Aswath were placed first, second and third respectively according to tie-breaks. Out of the eleven players, only three - Ajay, Karthik and GM Laxman remained undefeated. The total prize fund for the tournament was ₹200000. The top three prizes were ₹25000, ₹20000 and ₹15000 each. This was Ajay's fifth tournament triumph of the year. Photos: Vinoth Kumar

Ajay's fifth triumph of the year, Top eleven score 8/9

IM Ajay Karthikeyan has won five tournaments this year so far, three of them were rated and remaining two were team events. Three players - FM Karthik Rajaa, IM Ajay Karthikeyan and GM Laxman R R were at 7.5/8 heading into the last round. Ajay drew against Karthik an Harikrishnan also shared the point against GM Laxman R R. Thus, it allowed eight more players to join the pack. Surprisingly from board no.3 to 10, all players having 7/8 score, won their respective games with white pieces. A unique coincidence. Even board numbers 11 and 12 also had 1-0 results.

Champion - IM Ajay Karthikeyan 8/9

Runner-up - FM Karthik Rajaa 8/9

Second Runner-up - IM Aswath S 8/9

IM Ajay Karthikeyan scored an unbeaten 8/9 and gained 10.4 Elo rating points

4th GM Laxman R R 8/9

5th IM Sai Agni Jeevitesh J 8/9

6th Sailesh R 8/9

7th FM Prasannaa S 8/9

8th Aakash G 8/9

9th Jinan Jomon 8/9

10th Sarveshwaran V 8/9

Group photo of various prize winners

Players in action

Top boards

The tournament hall at D A V School, Pallikaranai in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

A total of 648 players including a GM and eight IMs took part from various places all over the country and two from the USA in this two-day nine round Rapid Rating Open tournament. It was organized by D A V Krida Kendram, Sports Academy of D A V Group of Schools at D A V School, Pallikaranai in Chennai, Tamil Nadu on 28th and 29th October 2023. The time control of the event was 15 minutes + 5 seconds increment per move.

Final standings

Rk.	SNo		Name	Typ	sex	Gr	FED	Rtg	Club/City	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	TB4	TB5
1	5	IM	Ajay, Karthikeyan			3313CHE2023	IND	2236	TN	8	56	61	53,00	0	7
2	9	FM	Karthik, Rajaa			2585CHE2023	IND	2169	TN	8	55,5	60	52,25	0	7
3	7	FM	Aswath, S	U15		5147KKI2023	IND	2219	TN	8	55,5	59	51,50	0	8
4	6	GM	Laxman, R.R.			41/CHE/LIFE	IND	2223	ICF	8	55,5	59	51,25	0	7
5	11	IM	Sai Agni Jeevitesh, J			NA	IND	2115	TEL	8	55	59	51,00	0	8
6	18		Sailesh, R			2615CHE2023	IND	1890	TN	8	52,5	55,5	48,00	0	8
7	13	FM	Prasannaa.S,			11203TLR2023	IND	2046	TN	8	52,5	54,5	47,00	0	8
8	14		Aakash, G	U15		3873CBE2023	IND	2014	TN	8	52	56	48,50	0	8
9	17		Jinan, Jomon			NA	IND	1894	KER	8	52	55	47,00	0	8
10	25		Sarveshwaran, V			3913CBE2023	IND	1831	TN	8	49	53,5	46,00	0	8
11	16	AGM	Vignesh, B			9624CGL2023	IND	1976	TN	8	48,5	51	44,00	0	8
12	3	IM	Harikrishnan.A.Ra,			2373CHE2023	IND	2274	TN	7,5	56,5	61,5	50,00	0	6
13	1	IM	Srihari, L R			9590CGL2023	IND	2302	TN	7,5	50	54	43,50	0	7
14	23	WFM	Meghna, C H		w	NA	IND	1850	KER	7,5	44,5	49	40,25	0	7
15	2	IM	Nitin, S.			LM	IND	2287	SRSPB	7	56,5	60,5	40,50	0	7
16	8	FM	Ashwath, R.			LM	IND	2200	TN	7	54	56,5	42,50	0	6
17	4	IM	Muthaiah, Al			7927TLR2023	IND	2264	TN	7	53,5	58	42,00	0	7
18	12	CM	John, Veny Akkarakaran	U15		NA	IND	2070	KER	7	53,5	57,5	41,50	0	7
19	58		Anirudh, R	U15		2284CHE2023	IND	1444	TN	7	52	57	42,50	0	7
20	36		Mahish, S A	U12		4852KAN2023	IND	1667	TN	7	52	57	41,50	0	7